Perhaps some readers may have grown impatient with this topic of separation long before this, but it is a measure of its significance in the eyes of God that so much space is devoted to it in the Word of God.  And we ignore it to our peril.  In writing to Timothy, his young protégé, Paul describes the ministry as “warfare.”  From this perspective, the minister was to realize that he must not rely so much on the tool of fine oratory as on the weapon of faithfulness to the truth.  He explains that this warfare entails “holding faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme” (I Tim. 1:19, 20).

            Naming names.  One of the most striking things about these verses is the fact that Paul identifies by name two men whom he considers to be dangerous by virtue of their false teaching.  He reminds Timothy that, though they profess to be faithful teachers of the Word of God, they have deliberately rejected (“cast aside”) both true personal faith and the good conscience that goes with it.  It is of no small import that Paul again warns about Hymenaeus (along with a second individual) in his second epistle to Timothy (2:16-18).

            Much of the modern church attempts to embarrass those who identify by name false teachers, wolves who come in sheep’s clothing.  It is not charitable or like Christ to single out people in such fashion, they would have us believe.  We need only consider the many times that Christ pointed out the error of the Pharisees to recognize this argument to be fallacious.  And since Paul’s words are God-breathed, it would make no difference had Christ not spoken out directly against error.  For He does so through the pen of Paul, giving us our example.

            Any loving parent warns as specifically as he can.  “Stay away from bad influences,” he might say generally, because “evil communications corrupt good manners” (i.e., “bad company corrupts good morals”—I Cor. 15:33).  But if he knows that John Smith is a juvenile delinquent, he will say, “Son, stay away from John Smith because he’s dangerous to your Christian walk.”  A parent who fails to warn against a known danger is derelict in his responsibility to safeguard his child.  So it is with pastors, or any mature believer with discernment.   When someone teaches unscriptural error that is a danger to the flock, he must be exposed.

                Beyond naming names.  Apparently, Hymenaeus and Alexander were members of the church Timothy was pastoring in Ephesus and were teaching (formally or informally) things contrary to sound doctrine.  Identifying these individuals by name was not sufficient to protect the purity and testimony of the church, so Paul informs Timothy that he has “delivered [them] unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”  Scholarly views vary on the full signification of this remark.  But the weight of conservative opinion seems to be that Paul’s remark describes excommunication:  the offenders were separated from the membership of the church and thrust into the world, Satan’s domain, for the preservation of the church (and, perhaps for their salvation or remediation:  “that they learn [“be taught”] not to blaspheme.”  Whatever action Paul describes, it surely must be agreed that he is speaking in terms of separation of the body of faithful believers from the proponents of blasphemous error.  We would all heartily wish to avoid such actions, but no church worthy the name of Christ can allow error to be taught in its midst.  When those promoting error refuse correction, they leave a godly assembly with no other remedy than severance.  Thus, the church will be protected, and they will be taught not to blaspheme.